Display & Audio
Samsung built the IP-830w with a generous 2.8" TFT touchscreen capable of 262,000 colors at a resolution 240 x 320 pixels (QVGA). One drawback of Windows Mobile is that it's limited to QVGA resolution while other phones are now creeping into even higher resolution territory. Still, there's plenty of room to keep track of appointments, contacts, emails, and more on this handset. The height of the screen was particularly handy for managing long "Today" lists on the home screen.
While the screen isn't the absolute best and brightest I've ever seen on a Samsung mobile, it generally performed quite well. Text rendered crisply enough for easy reading, and colors were good if not outstanding. Touchscreen functionality was good, and as I mentioned, the included stylus was quite comfortable to hold and use. Customization of the home screen is somewhat limited by the parameters of Windows Mobile, but this is a business phone and it's easier to read lots of information on a blank blue screen than on top of a photo or cartoon character.
I tested the IP-830w on Sprint's CDMA network in the San Francisco Bay Area. Reception and performance were very good, and people on the other end of my calls recorded no complaints. Calls on the built-in speakerphone also registered loud and clear (though I did turn the volume up in handsfree mode) as did ringtones and other audio alerts
Thought he handset is also GSM compatible, it only works with the international 900/1800 bands, and not 850/1900, which are used stateside. As such, I couldn't register the phone on T-Mobile's network to test GSM performance.
Samsung packaged the IP-830w with a wired stereo headset with inline microphone. The headset worked well for both handsfree calling and listening to music and other media over the device. Sprint's EV-DO Vision Network is quick enough to allow for easy streaming and downloading of large media files from the Net, which I took advantage of to grab a few mp3s to playback using Windows Media Player Mobile. The files sounded pretty good through the headset, though the earbuds weren't so comfortable. With a 2.5 to 3.5mm adapter and some quality earphones, this handset would make a great mobile media player for long business trips.
The IP-830w supports Bluetooth 1.1 including standard mono audio. I had no trouble pairing the handset with a Bluetooth earpiece, and achieved good results during voice calls.
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